Toolhead handle ratchet wedge



March 1, 1949. R. B. BRETER 2,463,142

TOOL HEAD HANDLE RATCHET WEDGE Filed April 15, 1947 INVENTOR. R/chmw 5.5n: fer

Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE 2,463,142..TOoLHEAD'IiANDLE arrears WEDGE Richard B. Breter, Northeast, Pa.Application April '15, 1947-, Serial no. 74 1-543 4 claims. (01.. see-ear This invention relates to wedge elements ror securing tool heads,such as hammer, hatchet, axe, and sledge hammer heads on the ends ofhandles by wedging surfaces of the handles against adjacent innersurfaces of the heads of the tools, and in particular a wedge element ofthe usual type in the edges of which spring steel pawls are providedwhich are positioned to engage with coacting teeth in the correspondingsurfaces at the ends of the handle-receiving socket of the tool head.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means in. a wedge elementfor securing tool heads on handles which locks the wedge in the securingposition in the head, wherein the wedge cannot work loose.

Wedge elements and devices have been provided of numerous types anddesigns, with some holding in the wood, or' material of theh'andle, andsome locking in the head; but as the: wood shrinks or wears, the usualtype of wedge works loose and the head finally works off of the end ofthe handle. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates awedge element adapted to be driven into a saw cut in the end of a toolhandle in which ratchet elements are incorporated for engaging ridges orteeth in the tool head to positively lock the wedge element in the headwith the said wedge element positioned in the saw cut of the handle.

The object of this invention is to provide a wedge having ratchetelements in combination therewith for securing tool heads on handles inwhich the Wedge positively secures the handle in the head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wedge forsecuring tool heads to handles thereof in which the holding elementsthereof are permanently incorporated in the wedge providing a singlecomplete unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge element forpermanently mounting a tool head on a handle in which the wedge isdriven into the usual saw cut in the end of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge element forpermanently securing tool heads on handles in which play developing inthe mounting between the end of the handle and head of the tool mayreadily be taken up by driving the wedge element further into the handleand head.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wedge element havingratchet elements in combination therewith for positively securing tool 2heads on handles; which is of a simple ahd'ec'iinomical construction.

With these and other objects in view, the invention em-bodies acombination wedge element and tool head wherein the wedge is adapted tobe driveni'nto a slit or saw cut in the end of "a handle and the edgesof the wedge element are provided with extendiiig spring-"pawlspositioned to engage with teeth in the tool head positioned inopp'o'site ends of the handle-receiving socket thereof.

Gther features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowingde'seiii l idh taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing alongit'udinal sec tion through a tool head;or hammer; with a part of the handle also shown in section and-partsbroken away; and with: thewed'ge elementshown in elevation.

Figure 2= -i's a view showing a side elevation of the wedge element.

Figure 3 is a view showing an end elevation of the wedge element.

Figure 4 is a view showing the hammer or tool head illustrating theposition of the ratchetgripping teeth in the handle-receiving socketthereof.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersindicate corresponding parts, the improved tool head mounting of thisinvention includes a wedge element Ill, a tool head II, and a handle 12.

The wedge l 0 is formed with a large end 13 and sides [4 and 15 thereofsloped from the large end or head to a point It. The ends I7 and I8 arealso slightly tapered, as shown in Figure 2. The edges I1 and I8 areprovided with transverse recesses l9 and 20 positioned substantiallymidway of the length thereof and fiat spring steel elements 2| and 22are positioned in the recesses with the inner ends thereof extendinginto sockets 23 and 24 of the wedge.

The tool head H is provided with a handlereceiving socket 25 and thesurfaces of the head in opposite ends of the socket are provided withteeth 26 and 21 which are positioned to be engaged by the springelements 2| and 22 as the wedge I0 is driven into a slit 28 in the endof the handle I2.

With the parts arranged in this manner, a tool head may be mounted uponthe end of a handle in the usual manner and with the end of the handleprovided with a slit 28, the wedge l0 may be driven therein and as thewedge approaches the position illustrated in Figure 1, the springelements 2| and 22 will engage the teeth 26 and 21, thereby making itsubstantially impossible for the wedge element to back up or move outward; and as wear develops in the mounting due to shrinkage of thehandle or other elements, the wedge may be driven further in and thespring elements will move along the teeth, thereby positively securingthe handle in the head in substantially any position.

The wedge element may be provided in various sizes for hammer, hatchet,axe, and sledge hammer heads, and it will be understood that othermodifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tool handle having a slit in an end thereof, a toolhead having a handlereceiving slot positioned on the end of the handlewith the slit therein with the end of the handle extending into the slotin the head and with inner surfaces of the head at opposite ends of theslot provided with transversely disposed teeth, and a wedge element withtransverse slots in the edges intermediate the ends and flat springstinsaid slots extending outward from the ends of the wedge and sloping fromthe mounting points thereof in the Wedge toward the large end of theWedge. I

2. A tool head mounting comprising a tool head having a substantiallyrectangular centrally disposed socket extending herethrough withtransversely positioned grooves in the head at opposite ends of thesocket, asubstantially solid wedge element positioned in said socket,and spring pawls extending outward diagonally from the ends of saidwedge element, said pawls inclined from the point of support thereoftoward the large endof the wedge.

3. In combination, a tool handle having a slit 4 in an end thereof, atool head having a handlereceiving slot positioned on the end of thehandle with the slit therein with the end of the handle extending intothe slot in the head and with inner surfaces of the head at oppositeends of the slot provided with transversely disposed downwardlyslopingteeth, and a wedge element with transverse slots in the edgesintermediate the ends and flat springs in said slots extending outwardfrom the ends of the wedge and sloping from the mounting points thereofin the wedge toward the large end of the wedge.

4. A tool head mounting comprising a tool head 4 having a substantiallyrectangular centrally disposed socket extending therethrough withtransversely positioned downwardly-sloping grooves in the head atopposite ends of the socket, a substantially solid wedge elementpositioned in said socket, and spring pawls extending outward diagonallyfrom the ends of said wedge element, said pawls-inclined from the pointof support thereof toward the large end of the wedge.

RICHARD B. BRE'I'ER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 100,347 Australia Mar. 4, 1937

